Wearable technology has become a new hot topic, which has so far produced just one consumer-ready device: the smartwatchPebble Smartwatch Review & GiveawayPebble Smartwatch Review & GiveawaySmartwatches are the new hottest trend in today's tech world, and the Pebble e-ink watch helped start the fire. The most successful Kickstarter project to date, the Pebble raised over $10 million during its 1-month...Read More. However, smartwatches aren’t the only wearable technology being developed right now — there are also glasses with built-in heads up displays. Sounds familiar? You may be thinking of the Google Glass, and we were lucky enough to get a pair to review.

At the end of this review, you’ll even be able to enter for a chance to win our review unit!

We bought this Google Glass with our own money — it wasn’t sponsored by Google, and we didn’t get it for free. We paid for it at our own cost, and now, we’re telling you what we think about it — our opinion is absolutely impartial.

What is Google Glass?

Google Glass, first introduced in February 2013, is an attempt by Google to place a computing device closer to your eyes, so that you always have the information you want or need just there. It does so by projecting a heads-up display in your field of vision which you can look to for information. One of its goals is also to allow you to communicate with it through natural language, just by speaking to it. It does have the potential to replace a smartphone, and it’s already on the right track, but it still has a long way to go. So far, Glass is available as an “Explorer Edition”, which is just a nice way of saying “beta”. Google is expecting the first consumer versions of Google Glass sometime in 2014.

There are also smart prescription eyewear called Icis being developed by LAFORGE Optical for just $200 that was open to pre-order (has since reached its limit). Google Glass, on the other hand, costs a whopping $1,500 (not including tax) and is still a very limited invitation-only beta. All of these offer a similar heads-up display idea, but they are all implemented differently.

Specifications

Because Google likes to stay somewhat mum about the full details of the device, this is all I can say as to the specifications of the device:

Entire right temple of Glass is touch-sensitive for interface navigation

802.11 b/g WiFi

Bluetooth (I believe it’s 4.0)

16 GB of flash storage, 12 GB available

50 grams

Packaging

The device comes shipped in a very minimalistic box that is completely white, with “Glass” across the top and “XE” for Explorer Edition on one of the sides. This box is rather long — one side is almost the length of my forearm. Another box directly below the main one holds some accessories for Glass. Accessories include a charger, a USB cable, a soft carrying case, and “Active Lenses” which act like sunglasses.

Design

Although the device looks extremely geeky, it’s still modern if not futuristic which makes it enticing to try out. Whether you can walk around town without a few people giving you weird looks is another thing altogether. While wearing it, it’s a little less appealing because it you’d probably look like you’re wearing a weird headband-type contraption, but that doesn’t really matter because it’s not a final design and you’ll be too excited to try it out anyways. I know I was. There were a few different color choices (half of them being various shades of gray), but I just went with white because I thought it was the best-looking one and the cleanest.

There is one long metal band which goes from ear to ear. It is flexible yet strong, so it should fit any head. The actual hardware is all on your right side, which includes the display, camera, touchpad, battery, and other internal components. It’s also here on the underside where you’ll find a microUSB port which is used solely for charging. Provided you have an acceptably long cable, you can use Glass while it’s charging — in fact, it automatically turns on whenever you have it plugged in. The nose pads can bend and actually stay in new locations if you overbend them a bit — so in other words, they’re adjustable. So is the actual display, which can swivel toward and away from your face, rotating at the hinge where it’s connected to the rest of the hardware.

The Glass is very customizeable and it works well for each individual user. So far the only users who might have issues are those are already wear glasses and won’t be able to view the projected display without prescription lenses.

Comfort

Google Glass is surprisingly comfortable to wear. It’s supported very well on the ears and nose, and having almost 50 grams of weight on the right side (as all the hardware is on that side) actually isn’t a big deal. The main issue is the display itself — because it’s so close, it does create a lot of eye strain. Google doesn’t document this but I read elsewhere online that it’s suggested to only use Glass for an hour a day initially.

Getting Started

There are plenty of notes around the box to show you what is what, and how to get started. The main tip here is to get the MyGlass app from the Play Store (which needs Android 4.0.3 or higher) or the iTunes Store and have it walk you through the process of setting up Glass. It’ll also give you an idea of how to navigate the interface, which you can do by swiping or tapping at the surface on the right temple. Depending on what you want to do, you can swipe forward and backward to scroll, up to bring up options, down to exit out of your current screen, and tap to select. It’ll also guide you to connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth and get the MyGlass app to communicate with it.

The app isn’t available for any other smartdevice platform. However, you can use your computer as well to set it up — Glass will tell you which URL you need to visit. You’ll just have to connect to a WiFi network instead of using Bluetooth and follow the instructions on your computer. From there, you should be able do the same things on your computer as you could with the MyGlass app.

Glass can reach the internet by using your smartphone’s data via Bluetooth, or by connecting itself to a WiFi network. Note that if you choose to use your smartphone’s data, you may need to pay tethering charges depending on your carrier. That can get expensive pretty quickly, so be careful.

Here’s a series of screenshots of the setup process:

In between these steps, you will have to choose your preferred Google account if you have multiple Google accounts set up on your smartphone.

I’m able to take screenshots of what is displayed on Glass because the MyGlass app allows “screencasting” onto the paired smartphone. You can even perform the same swiping and tapping actions on your phone and have them interpreted by Glass.

Interface

Once the setup is out of the way, you can finally start using Glass! Before you begin messing with it, note that Glass uses pages. Information is shown in very little amounts at a time, and they’re split up into different pages. To switch pages, just swipe forward or backward to move between them.

The main page that you’ll see will just be the time and “ok glass”. Since during the setup, Glass asked you to say “ok glass” multiple times in order to recognize your voice and only yours, you’ll want to do this. Before issuing it a command, it’ll show a list of different possibilities, which you can scroll through by tiling your head up and down. Then just pick one of the options by saying it, and then complete the rest of the command if needed (tell it what to Google if you asked it to Google something for you).

Built-in by default are commands like “google…”, “take a picture”, “take a video”, “get directions to”, “send a (text) message”, “make a call to” (which uses your smartphone for the call, but audio goes through Glass), “make a video call to” (via Google Hangouts), and “take a note”. You can extend the list of possible commands by adding Glassware (the app equivalent for Glass), but more on that later.

Once you’ve done some things with Glass (such as take pictures, searched Google, etc.), then it’ll remember those and have them accessible by simply swiping forward or backward to move between pages. When you’re on a picture or video, you can tap on it or swipe up to view some options. Pictures and videos will have a Share option, but videos will also include a Play option. You can then tap to select the currently “highlighted” selection.

Sending a message is also interesting. It works very well, but you need to add contacts to your Glass via the MyGlass app on your smartphone before you can actually send messages to those people. Also, in my case, it used my Google Voice number instead of my regular phone number — I wasn’t able to find a way to change this.

Glassware can be enabled via the MyGlass app on your smartphone. Just scroll down past the Glass device info and contacts, and you’ll see various Glassware apps that you can add if you’d like.

You may set them up on your smartphone (logging into Facebook or Twitter and authorizing access), and the functionality will be added to Glass via Bluetooth. Each Glassware app provides different functionality. For example, Facebook only really adds an additional share option for the social network, but not much else. Twitter adds additional share options as well as extra pages which show popular tweets of people you follow. The Google Now Glassware app adds some pages that are similar to the cards you’d see on your smartphone — one for weather, one for the traffic on your commute, one for an upcoming sports game, and so on. Finally, the Allthecooks app lets you search for recipes or record your own using the “ok glass” interface. The list of currently available Glassware is decent, but still contains no more than 20 applications.

Battery Life

Battery life is a major issue with Glass right now. Although Google advertises that it should last all day, that is maybe possible if you use it very sparingly throughout the day. If you’re like me and want to mess around with it continuously as it’s a cool toy to have, then it might last for two hours before requiring a recharge. I’m certain the battery needs to improve before Glass becomes truly portable.

Things It Can’t Do

While I understand that Google Glass is still in beta, I expected it to be able to do a few more things. For example, it can read out any emails you receive, but it’s not possible to reply to any of them. Like I mentioned above, it also seems impossible to use your smartphone’s number while texting with Glass (if you have a Google Voice number). Also, it would have been nice if it could have taken the role of a personal assistant — it should be a lot more interactive. All I heard were lots of dings and dongs.

Other Concerns

Battery life isn’t the only issue here. The Glassware “app store” is still rather limited and some apps don’t do very much (Facebook, I’m looking at you), Glass currently costs $1,500, and is increasingly being banned in various locations, most notably while driving. As far as functionality goes, there’s plenty of potential that hasn’t quite been achieved yet, along with more Glassware (and more-developed Glassware). However, there’s still a long way to go in that regard, and with the need to actually integrate the hardware with prescription glasses, make the batteries last longer, and bring the price down significantly, there’s still plenty of work left for Google.

Conclusion

So, after all of this — is Google Glass cool? Absolutely! Is it functional? Sort of — not quite, but it has plenty of potential. Is it worth getting? Definitely not. It’s a very neat concept, but all it does is smartphone-like things without actually using your smartphone. Unless they eventually develop Glass into something that can fully replace a smartphone, all it does is replicate. Therefore, it’s not a necessity but rather a very expensive convenience. So expensive, that I really don’t think it’s worth getting.

Our verdict of the Google Glass (Developer Kit):MakeUseOf recommends: Don’t buy…yet. Let Google work out the kinks and wait for the price to drop significantly.510

The Winner

Congratulations, Kevin Dethlefs! You would have received an email from jackson@makeuseof.com. Please respond before January 15 to claim your prize. Enquires beyond this date will not be entertained.

Send your products to be reviewed. Contact Jackson Chung for further details.

"explorer version" means just that - for exploration - to find out what people like and dislike in this version. I've tried it on. It's very far from being really useful. I wouldnt pay for it more than 100$. It's a peripheral, not a computer!.

I work with individuals with fairly significant disabilities, so I'm always looking at new technology that could be used to make their lives easier. If only Google glass could translate manual sign language into speech so that I could better communicate with my students who are deaf .

I wish Google glass could use a GPS to locate my friends, and show them where they are. This can increase the social benefits of Glass. :) Also, it would be cool if it could access the internet with 3G/4G connectivity instead of via bluetooth or wifi :). Finally, it would be really useful if I could create documents with Glass by just dictating with my voice.

History always repeats itself. Every great technological advancement (cars, trains, planes, computers, phones, PDA's, iphones, social media, ...) received a LOT of skepticismat first, just to be accepted by the masses over time.

As far as I know, google glass can't do facial recognition and display that information using augmented reality. It would just display the information on it's tiny screen which while useful, is boring. We should be at the point that just looking a people and objects should trigger information streams about them.

A really good article and just makes me want to use Glass even more. The cost would be the only thing holding me back that's for certain as it is likely the only thing holding many people back. Bring on the HUD!!!

I actually thought, the google glass would be a phone itself. It's also great the way it is, but it forces you to buy an android phone. wouldn't be a problem, but I don't like companies selling products forcing you to buy other products of the company.

I don't see it impossible, but since it has a camera it could be possible to develop a facial recognition app for it that can connect to a database and to scan a person's identity. LOL! It seems like a mission impossible movie, but I don't think such a thing can be technically impossible.
Like you mentioned, I also expected the glass to be a little more interactive, but it is able to work like a personal assistant is a touch job. Since it is such a small piece of hardware, it would surely be hard to put such intelligent capabilities in it without connecting it to the internet which can be very expensive for networks other than WiFi.

Laser scan everything! Kind of like the blue light scanner in the beginning of ALIENS (1986) or give off detailed information about objects distance, what the objects are... OR infrared view capability so I could look at everything through the eye of Terminator! :D But most importantly is for battery to last full 24/ 48 hours and for the gadget part of the glass not to interferer with my eye sight (so it would be adjustable to my comfort).

I thought that google glass would be able to let me scan ingredients of cereal boxes with a technology of x-ray vision so that i could know which box contains the gift , to be gifted to my sibling. But sadly it just can't.

state of the art technology,but it became much awesome sophisticated cutting edge haha if it has no frame in the forehead like a eye glass, only a glass and been attach in left or right ear direct to the eye, or add specs like you can see a hologram and design to function even in 1 finger w/ a remote control ring just pointing and pressing in the air sort of..hahaha.. only my hallucinating wild imaginations

I expected Google Glass to "know" where you are and turn itself off while driving, etc. I understand now why it's being baned in many locations...I mean, strip joints have a "no phone" policy and they'll certainly have to expand it to a no Google Glass policy as well! lol :)

I expected Google Glass to "know" where you are and turn itself off while driving, etc. I understand now why it's being baned in many locations...I mean, strip joints have a "no phone" policy and they'll certainly have to expand it to a no Google Glass policy as well! lol :)

I expect Google Glass to do augmented reality. Like moving around a city and seeing prices for the restaurants near me that Glass is sensing. Plus realtime friend greeting should show interactions to "add friend, follow, tweet to, send via bluetooth" etc... Plus a nice add on to Google Glass would be Google Contact's but that's just a wish away!

I wish it could find the nearest emergency service user for help, like if you have some kind of medical condition and cannot move or speak (like elder ones) or in a car accident or if you faint and can't wake up it could relay medical info in real time (heartbeat, etc).

Oh how this would be a dream come true to win this! ive loved google glass since it came out yet i havent enough money for it or an apple device but i got one and google glass would fit perfectly! i still think the battery should last longer!

I would really enjoy these glasses better if the battery life was longer than what it is , two hours battery life is to short! What a great prize this would be to win, would have tons of fun, just have to keep recharging it!!

According to OtterBox.com, under the category of wearable tech:
Google Glass, for example, is in this class of devices. The Internet search giant’s X Labs dreamed up the augmented reality headset, which is now in beta testing, to offer wearers an enhanced view of the world around them. And to make them look ridiculous, but mostly for the AR thing. Google Glass uses some advanced tech: bone conduction audio, a built-in camera, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and of course the namesake see-through display.
sergey
Features include maps and navigation, picture and video taking, phone calls, messaging, and other feats people can’t be bothered to accomplish with their hands. The user interface is also based largely on voice recognition, so you can command Glass to take a pic or send a message at will.
The one-eye-only heads-up display for future-pirates can’t operate entirely on its own, however, and needs to be tethered to a smartphone in order for all functions to work. Looking silly is a standalone feature.
- See more at: http://blog.otterbox.com/wearable-tech-the-future-of-your-devices/#sthash.7uyvlsiC.dpuf

I really think Google Glass is an extremely promising step toward a transition to wearable tech. I can envision using it for things such as cooking, reading, music, and more. I did expect it to have a longer battery life, however I'm sure that will be improved upon in further releases and additions such as solar recharging may be an option. It is important to recognize that it is still in beta testing, so functions such as replying to emails, new Glassware, and other additional features will be added as the product becomes more available and matured. I expected it to be able to integrate with personal assistant features such as Siri (Apple) and S-Voice (Samsung), as well as increased google now functionality. I think cross-platform functionality is a must if it wants to stay relevant and popular. I really like the concept of indoor maps for situation such as navigating through a store or museum. I am extremely excited to see what innovations Google Glass and other wearable tech brings in the future!

Technologically I think this is a great idea, BUT, practically a terrible idea unless you also develop a Blocking System Sensor so that it cannot be used when moving as in a Truck, or Automobile or on a Bike, or in any moving Vehicle of any type. Simply because today's Adults, both Young and Old do not seem to have common sense as to when and where to use equipment. They are not willing to practice self discipline and to only use equipment when it is absolutely safe for them and everyone around them. This device as is, will cause the DEATHS of thousands of innocent drivers on the Highways and Pedestrians on the roads and Sidewalks.. The idea of the safety sensor system already exists and I leave it up to these Corporations to develop the means to tie them together.

I'd like to see Google glass blend online resources it already has with data from the Google glasses, recognizing friends from your list - incorporating your shopping list when you are near a store. Prompting you with appropriate reminders for whatever you happen to be seeing, etc.

I was sorely disappointed to find that Google's latest creation actually would NOT let me jump over tall buildings with a single bound. It won't even protect my secret identity as well as a common pair of black framed, Clark-Kent-style glasses. Oh well, it IS rather nice to be able to see what the ambient temperature is where I presently am--or where I plan to go (at least as long as I have a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth internet connection)...
Seriously, thanks for the opportunity to win this ultra-cool toy!
Hope you have a GREAT New Year!!

I don't really have any expectations for Google Glass. Since it's a new platform and I'm a developer all I expect is that I can put it on my face and play with coding some fun stuff. If it can handle that I am perfectly content.

I would have liked to have seen Google Glass to have been capable of functioning as a Argumentative Reality device allowing you to "see" user determined POI's with there distance, ratings and Google+ reviews base off of the direction you are looking, then offer a transnational interface into Google Maps and Navigation once you have chosen a location.

I would like to see google glass be able to diagnose people with problems, like all kinds of mental disorders based on patterns of speech, eye movement, what they are looking at and how hey respond. Maybe drug reps could pay to have them look for side effects? With some kind of disclaimer?

Hmm... I think I wanted Glass to be an almost replacement for my phone. Say my phone was basically always in my pocket or in a bag, between my Pebble and Glass, there would be little need to ever pull it out (apart from playing games). I'm hoping that as the updates roll out, more and more functionality will take over some of the more mundane things that you do with a cell phone. Also, battery life needs to be VASTLY improved.

When I discovered them a couple of years ago I was like wow, augmented reality! I imagined live information moving on the walls and things like this. But well it may be too early for such awesomeness. They're equally amazing btw.

I think this gadget had a hell of a lot of potential, if developed fully. I'm also sure that it can be handy when driving, and safer than a sat nav, when five properly. Projecting the route onto the road in front of you, instead of diverting your attention to a little screen has got to be less distracting.

I would like it to show me directions while driving, instead of having to look away from the road and over to a screen. Plus I'd like it to be a bit more interactive, and fetch information on items I'm looking at, such as Amazon reviews, live updates on puublic transport and so on.

I have Glass XE V2 and the review has several items that need clairification to name a few:
1) You can reply to email
2) You can text message using your cell number (SMS), or GV, or Hangouts.
3) Voice calls work just like a Bluetooth headset, so do voice or video hangouts.
4) Prescription lenses are available on V2 from various suppliers.
5) Bluetooth data works just fine and does not require a tethering plan.
6) Battery life while poor compared to modern smart phones (that weight much more) it can last most of the day during typical use. The reviewer likely didn't get a few battery cycles to get full capacity into the battery before making this 2 hour statement.
7) States "a microUSB port which is used solely for charging. " that actually serves to connect a mono earbud or stereo headset.

I am going to assume this review was of a V1 unit as they made not mention of the headset, google music functions, or even made mention of the V2 edition. They likely got this last summer and were bored with it and decided it was time to publish the review and get some traffic to there site by giving it away.

If you want a pair you will have to fork over the $1500 price but plenty of invites are available on the official G+ Glass Explorer's community.

For those like me with real vision problems, integrating Rx for vision correction will be a huge improvement. Also, it would be nice if the gals could be switched from one eye to the other to reduce strain.

Glass is awkward. We might just have to accept the awkwardness and look to Steve Mann for fashion tips. If we can get enough computing power into a jeans pocket then Glass has serious potential. The future might well be awkward. Where did I put that argyle bowtie?

It seems to lack the interactivity with other devices. Being able to use a paired device would make it easier and probably that much more probable to allow for email responding, notes, and being able to pull up additional data that Glass cannot display. It seems limited in how it fully operates. Give it time I suspect. I do not expect subtitles for movies or tv, but I would expect some sort of data collection of the surroundings and getting some sort of response. Facial recognition may also be a bit much and really, is it needed??